Locomotive firebox equipment



Nov. 30, 1943. Le. A. SIEGEL LOCOMOTIVE FIREBOX EQUIPMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed ApriPl- 30, 1942 INVE 0R:-

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Nev. 30, 1943. c. A. SIEGEL LOCOMOTIVE FIREBOX EQUIPMENT J 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 30, 1942 INVE 012.-

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BY T 57 ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 30, 1943. c. A. SIEGEL LOCOMOTIVE FIREBOX EQUIPMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENEOR: AT; ORNEYS.

Filed April 30, 1942 Patented Nov. 30, 1943 LOCGMOTIVE FIREBOX EQUIPMENT Chester A. Siege], Newark, N. J., assignor to American Arch Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Application April 30, 1942, Serial N0. 441,180.

14 Claims.

This invention relates to locomotive firebox equipment, and is particularly concerned with an improved arrangement of water steaming and circulating means.

As a general object, the invention has in view improvement of circulation and heat absorption, this general object being achieved by the employment of water steaming and'circulating elements disposed in the firebox space in a novel manner, as will further appear.

In accordance with the invention, a transverse circulator element is employed, the ends of this element serving as inlets and being connected with the water legs at the sides of the firebox, the element preferably having appreciably extended upright surfaces, so as to increase heat absorption area in the firebox. This circulator element desirably takes the form of a fiatted body having considerable volume, thus serving as a reservoir from which various outlet connections may draw.

The outlet connections are arranged in a novel manner and preferably include an outlet extended upwardly to the crown sheet, and also a set of tubes extended rearwardly for connection with the water space surrounding the firebox toward the rear thereof. In the preferred form of construction, this set of outlet tubes is coupled with the backhead and the tubes are so spaced and located at such an elevation as to provide effective support for fire brick forming a refractory arch extended upwardly and rearwardly from the fiatted inlet body.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the flatted body projects appreciably below the plane of attachment of the set of tubes aforementioned, thereby leaving a substantial surface area of the inlet body exposed to the fire bed below the refractory arch.

The invention thus provides interconnected circulator elements which are coupled. not only with the side water legs, but also with the crown sheet and the backhead. Still further, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the interconnected elements additionally include at least one such element connected with 'thethroat sheet. In this way, circulation asbetween widely separated parts of the water space surrounding the firebox is provided.

The foregoing arrangement of interconnected elements not only improves circulation, but it is of further advantage because of the strength and interbracing provided thereby, particularly as a result of the use of the transverse body in association with longitudinally extending circulator tubes connected'with said body.

According to certain forms of construction, provision is made for support of a double or divided refractory arch, the two parts of which are located in the firebox, one in advance of the other, and preferably with the rear edge of the forward part located at an elevation above the forward edge of the rearward part. This is of advantage in providing a break in the arch surface and thereby introducing a baffle in the path of the fuel and flame stream at the underside of the arch. In turn, the baliiing is useful in reducing the quantity of cinders carried over the rear edge of the arch and forwardly to the boiler fiues. This particular advantage is common to certain arrangements herein disclosed and to the arrangement of my copending application filed concurrently herewith, Serial No. 441,181.

Still another object of the present invention is the use of a flatted transverse body, with tubes connected with one side face of said body, the other side face being provided with a bulge opposite the tube connection. In the preferred form of construction, the fiatted body is staybolted intermediate the tube connections and this feature, in combination with said bulges, serves to provide adequate strength to withstand high pressures, notwithstanding the connection of the tubes to the side face. The bulges are additionally useful inimproving the entrance flow into the tubes from the reservoir in the body.

How the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained will be apparent from a consideration of the following description, refer ring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View through a firebox equipped with one form of circulator, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional View taken as indicated by the line 2-2 on Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 are views similar to Figures 1 and 2, but illustrating a second form of construc tion; and

Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to Figures 1 and 2, but illustrating a third embodiment.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, the firebox space is defined by a crown sheet l, side sheets 8-8, inside throat sheet 9, and inside back sheet 10. These inside sheets cooperate with outer sheets to define boiler space substantially completely surrounding the firebox, the outside sheets including the outside back sheet ll, the outside throat sheet 12 and the wrapper sheet l3, the.

latter being curved downwardly at the sides as clearly appears in Figure 2. The lower edge of the space between the inside and outside sheets is closed by a mud ring It. A fire door may be provided through the backhead as indicated at l5.

The usual grates (not shown) are located in the bottom of the firebox.

Flue sheet 16 is located at the forward end of the firebox, the flue tubes I! (only two of which are illustrated) being extended therefrom through the boiler barrel.

In the form of circulator equipment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a fiatted transverse body it is located in the lower forward portion of the firebox space, this fiatted body lying in a generally upright plane and having appreciably extended side face area, as clearly appears in Figure 2. Opposite ends of the body iii are connected with the side water legs and the upper edge of the body is inclined upwardly from each side toward the center, the center point being provided with an outlet connection I9 extended upwardly for communication with the water space above the crown sheet I.

A set of circulator tubes (four being shown in Figure 2) have their forward ends coupled with the rear face of the body l3, from which the tubes project upwardly and rearwardly tothe' backhead, as clearly appears in Figure 1. be observed that these tubes are joined with the body [8 at a point spaced appreciably above the lower edge thereof. The tubes are thus located at an elevation suitable for support of arch brick 2| which constitute a refractory arch overlying the fire bed. The fuel and flame stream must thus pass around the rear edge of the arch'and then proceed forwardly in order to reach the boiler fiues ll.

Because of the arrangement of the several circulator parts described, the transverse inlet body 13 acts as a reservoir of appreciable capacity.

from which the outlet l9 and the set of outlet tubes 2%) may draw. Uniform and vigorous cir-;.

culation is thereby provided. The arrangement is also of advantage because of the strength and interbracing provided by the several interconnected circulator parts, as will readily be applies;

ciated from inspection of Figure 2.

The inlet body I8 is desirably staybolted, as

indicated at 22 in Figure 2, the staybolts being arranged in areas remote from the connection of tubes 20 with the body. As appears in Figure l, moreover, the body I8 is preferably providedwith a bulge 23 in the side face substantially opposite the point of connection of each tube 2t.

In view of this, even where the body has extended sides and even where the sides are subwhich space is divided from the fire bed in the rear of the box. The lower edge of the transverse body it! may, if desired, be brought down very close to the grate level so that this body itself serves to divide the lower region of thefirebox into fore and aft compartments. However, as shown in Figure l, the lower edge of the body [8 may be located somewhat above the grate level and the intervening space closed as by re- It will 9 fractories 24 carried on any suitable support, such as shown at 25. Other refractories 2 5 may be used to close the bottom of the forward compartment between brick 24 and the throat sheet.

The general type of circulation, and also the advantages of interbracing, etc. above referred to, are also achieved by the forms of construction illustrated in Figures 3 to 6.

In the arrangement of Figures 3 and 4, the transverse inlet portion of the circulator, indicated at [811, is located farther to the rear and higher in the firebox. The inlet body iSa, moreover, is not of as great surface area as in the form of Figures l and 2. To provide adequate clearance for firing, the inlet body l8a has both its upper and lower edges arched upwardly toward the center, as clearly appears in Figure 4.

In Figures 3 and 4, the transverse body is also coupled with the crown sheet by an outlet lQa. A set of tubes 29a (three being shown in Figure 4) extends upwardly and rearwardly from the body l8a, this set again being connected with the backhead as in Figure 1.

In addition to the circulator elements described above, the modification of Figures 3 and 4 further includes an additional set of tubes 28 (four being shown in Figure 4) these being independent of the interconnected elements [8a, Illa and 20a. Tubes 28 are connected at their forward ends with the throat sheet and extend upwardly and rearwardly therefrom for connection with the crown sheet. Desirably, the tubes 28 project rearwardly at-opposite sides of the outlet connection l9a, as is shown in Figure 4, the upward bend for connection with the crown sheet occurring in large part to the rear of said outlet I 9a. Because of this, theportions of the tubes 28 ahead of the outlet l 9a alllie substantially in a common plane, thereby facilitating support of a fiat refractory arch composed of bricks 21.

While it may not be desired or necessary in all installations, as shown in Figure 3, the tubes 20a are again utilized for support of arch brick Zla, andwith referenceto the two sets of arch brick (2m and 21), it is now pointed out that the supporting tubes are arranged so that the rear edge,

of the advantages already described. Addition ally, it may be mentioned that an installation of this type is particularly suited to a locomotive having'a long firebox, in which the total span from the'throat sheet to' the backhead is so great that it is difficult to provide adequate strength in tubes for supporting the arch if these tubes extend throughout this entire span;

: Moreover, the arrangement-of Figures 3 and 4.; not only provides for circulation between the side sheets and the crown sheet and backhead, but

additionally, provides circulation between the throat sheet and the crown sheet. V q

' A number of the features lust mentioned above in connectionwith Figures 3 and 4, and also many described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, are

present in the form of construction illustrated in Figures and '6. In general, the modification of Figures '5 and 6 differs-from Figures 3 and 4 in the employment of a forward set of tubes 28a (three being shown in Figure 6) which tubes, instead of being connected at their rear ends with the crown sheet, are coupled with the transverse circular inlet body l8b.

Here, again, the inlet body (181)) has appreciably extended side face area and is provided with an outlet connection lfibextended upwardly to the crown sheet. Also, as before, a set of tubes 2% (four being shown in Figure .6) extends upwardly and rearwardly from the body I822 for connection with the backhead. The rear ended tubes 26a are preferably coupled with the body What an elevation above the point of connection of the forward ends oftubes 26b, thereby providing for a break in the line of the arch provided by bricks 2.! and 2 la.

In addition to the advantages of providing a break andbalfle in the arch, the connection of the tubes in the manner just described is of advantage since it enables the employment of bulges 23a and 23b in staggered relation, these bulges, together with the staybolting in the intermediate areas, providing the necessary strength to take high pressure, notwithstanding the fact that the body is of flatted shape.

The third form (Figures 5 and 6) affords highly effective circulation, and also has structural advantages, because of the interconnection and interbracing of circulator elements coupled not only with the side sheets, crown sheet and backhead, but also with the throat sheet.

An important feature to note in connection with all forms is that in each of the three arrangements, very little, if any, variation in brick shapes is required throughout the entire arch, including the two parts thereof in the forms in which the arch is divided. This is accomplished, moreover, notwithstanding the employment of a transverse circulator element interconnecting the side sheets.

Attention is called to the fact that certain of the arrangements herein disclosed are also disclosed in my copending application filed concurrently herewith, Serial No. 441,182, wherein said arrangements are illustrated in association with other features.

I claim:

1. In a locomotive firebox, water steaming and circulating equipment comprising a transverse body of appreciably extended sideface area, the ends of said body being connected with the side water legs and the body serving as a circulator inlet, the upper edge of said body lying substantially below the crown sheet, an outlet element interconnecting the body and the crown'sheet, a set of circulator tubes extended rearwardly from the body and connected with the Water space surrounding'the firebox in the region of the rear end thereof and a refractory arch supported by said tubes.

2. A construction in accordance with claim 1 in which said outlet element (interconnecting the transverse body and the crown sheet) is connected with the body at the upper edge thereof, and in which said set of circulator tubes is connected with the body at a side face thereof.

3. In a locomotive firebox, water steaming and circulating equipment including a circulator body extending transversely of the firebox with its ends connected with the side water legs and the upper edge thereof lying substantially below the crown sheet, and two sets of circulator tubes all extended generally lengthwise of the firebox, one set being located at least in large part forwardly of the other and the adjacent ends of the two sets being disposed at different elevations and providing for support of a refractory arch at said different elevations at least one set of tubes being connected with said trans-verse body.

4. In a locomotive firebox, water steaming and circulating equipment including a set of circulator tubes extended upwardly and rearwardly from the throat of the firebox, with the upper ends connected with the crown sheet, a transverse circulator element intermediate the front and rear of the firebox having its ends connected with the side water legs, and an outlet for said transverse element extended upwardly therefrom between adjacent tubes of said set for connection with the crown sheet.

'5. ,A construction in accordance with claim 4 and further including a second set of circulator tubes extended upwardly and rearwardly from said transverse element.

6. In a locomotive firebox, water steaming and circulating equipment including a transverse circulator element located intermediate the front and rear of the firebox and having its ends connected with the side water legs, an outlet connected with said transverse element and extended upwardly therefrom for connection with the crown sheet, the upper edge of said body lying substantially below the crown sheet, a set of circulator tubes connected with said element and extended forwardly therefrom for connection with the throat sheet, and a second set of circulator tubes connected with said element and extended rearwardly therefrom for connection with the water space surrounding the firebox in the region of the rear end thereof and a refractory arch supported by each set of circulator tubes.

7. A construction in accordance with claim 6 in which said second set of circulator tubes is connected with the firebox backhead.

8. In a locomotive firebox, water steaming and circulating means comprising an inlet body of substantial side face area, the body being extended transversely of the firebox and having its ends connected with the side water legs, an outlet portion connected with said inlet body and extended generally rearwardly therefrom for connection with the boiler space surrounding the firebox at an elevation above the inlet connections.

9. A construction in accordance with claim 8 in which said inlet body has fiatted sides and in which the outlet portion is connected with one of said fiatted sides.

10. In a locomotive firebox, water steaming and circulating equipment comprising a transverse body of appreciably extended side face area located in the forward lower portion of the firebox, the ends of said body being connected with the side water legs and the body serving as a circulator inlet, an outlet element interconnecting the body and crown sheet and a set of circulator tubes extending rearwardly from the body at an elevation providing for support of arch brick and connected with the water space surrounding the firebox in the region of the rear end thereof.

11. In a locomotive firebox, water steaming and circulating equipment including a transverse fiatted body lying in a generally upright plane, said body being positioned in the lower forward portion of the firebox but spaced to the rearof the throat sheet and serving to separate fore and aft portions of the firebox space in a region just above the firebox grate level, the ends of said transverse body being connected with the side water legs, and an outlet element interconnecting the upper edge of said body and the crown sheet and a set of circulator tubes connected, with the side face of said transverse body appreciably above the lower edge thereof and extending rearwardly from said body at an elevation providing for support of arch brick.

12. Circulator equipment for a locomotive firebox including a circulator body extending transversely of the firebox and having its ends con-v nected with the side Water legs, an outlet connected with said body and extended upwardly for connection to the crown sheet, the said body being spaced forwardly from the backhead of the firebox, and a plurality of circulation tubes connected with said body and extending rearwardly therefrom at an elevation providing for support of arch brick to the rear of said body.

13. Circulator equipment for a locomotive firebox including a circulator body extending transversely of the firebox and having its ends connected With the side Water legs, said body being located intermediate the front and rear of the firebox, an outlet connected with said body and extending upwardly for connection with the crown sheet, and a plurality of circulation tubes connected with said body extending both forwardly and rearwardly therefrom and being connected respectively with the body at different elevations and at an elevation providing for support of arch brick.

14. For a locomotive firebox circulator equipment comprising a. transverse inlet body having its ends connected with the side water legs, circulator tubes connected with said transverse body and extended forwardly and downwardly for connection with the throat sheet to provide for support of arch brick forming a refractory arch extended upwardly and rearwardly from said thoat sheet, said tubes also serving as circulator inlets, and outlet means comprising an element interconnecting said body and the crown sheet, and an element interconnecting said body and the water space surrounding the firebox in the region of the rear end thereof.

CHESTER A. SIEGEL. 

